Synchronizing device for ignition timers



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,697,909

J. T. FITZSIMMONS ET AL SYNGHRONIZING DEVICE FOR IGNITION TIMER S Filed Nov. 18, 1927 Patented Jan. 8, 1929 Joni-v 'I. rrzsmmons AND WILLIAM D. snnorn, or Annnnson, rnnrenii, Assionons TO DELCO-REMY conrona'rion, or navron, onto, a coerenarron or DELAWARE.

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Application filed November 18,1927. "serial he. agrees.

This invention relates to ignition timers for internal combustion engines and more particularly to the type of ignition timer which comprises a plurality of circuit interrupters which are operated alternately 1 in recurrent sequence. 7 7

One object of the present invention is to provide atool which may be readily applied to the ignition timer and which will facilitate the determination of the extent to which the angular relation between the circuit interrupters shouldbe adjusted in order to obtain the proper time relation between the operations of the circuit interrupters.

In our copending companion application Serial No. 234,098, filed November 18, 1927,

I we accomplish this object by providing an arm which may be readily attached to the ignitiontimer cam in either of two predetermined relative positions thereto depending on the direction of rotation of the timer cam when operating to provide ignition, said arm having a pluralit-yot sets of graduation spaced apart a predetermined distance dependent upon the angular spacing of the cam-rubbing blocks of the circuit interrupters. A certain mark or part of an ignition timer housing cooperates with these sets of graduations in order to determine to what extent the angular relation between the interrupters should be' varied in order to meet the requirements of correct time relation between the operations of the interrupters. In said companion application, the synchronizing tool is adapted to be attached to and driven by a timer cam having a fiat on its cylindrical extension, said fiat being intended for use in providing a means for locating a distributor rotor block directly upon the cam. The synchronizing tool is adjustable so that-it may be used with this type of ignition timer whether the timer cam is" intended'for clockwise rotation or intended for counterclockwise rotation.

The synchronizing tool disclosed in this application is aspecies of the invention of our copending application and differs from it in respect to the manner of securing the arm of the synchronizing tool to the timer cam. More specifically, the present synchronizing tool is adapted to be attached to a cam having a cylindrical extension adapt-ed to be received by a cylindrical recess in distributor rotor block and having a notch on one side ofthe extension for receiving a lug of therotor .block in order to correctly locate the rotor relativetofthe cam.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent .i' ro n the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawingsflvherein a preferred form of embodiment the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: l Figs. 1-,and2 are plan views of an ignition timershowingthe use of the tool as applied to an ignition timer intended for clockwise rotation. i f Figs. Sand 4 are views similar-to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the use of thes nchronizing rotates counterclockwise.

F 1g. "5 is a sectronal v ew on theline 5. 5 of hlg 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the cam and syncronizing tool. looking in the direct of rr 6 o Fig. 5,;certai'n partsbe ing shown in section. f

The present invention may be appliedjto timers and the one chosen for the purposes of iilusnation is that disclosed in the co pending application of John T. 'Fitzsiinnons, Serial #23 h1Qt), filed llovemberl8 1927. This ignitiontnner comprises two intorrupters eacn including a rubbing block, the rubbing block being located diametrically opposite the axis of the tiller cam having three equidistant lobes. The circuit breakers are connected in parallel in an ignition tool w th an ignition timer. in which the cam various types of double. breaker ignition circuit and are operated alternately bythe.

timer cam, each interrupter closing. and opening the ignition circuit wl' ilethe other interrupter remains open. i v

The ignition timer includes a housing 20 within which is supported a stationary plate 21 having upstanding; ears or -lugs22 and 23, which insulatingly support a conducting to the conducting strap 24: and at the other by a rivet 36 to the breaker lever 32, said rivet also securing a rubbing block 37 adapted to be engaged by arotatable timer cam 38. 'The degree of contact separation is adjusted by'adjusting the distance from the rubbing block37 to the axis of the cam.

This adjustment is effected by rotating the bracket 33 upon its pivot 34; and,'to accomplish .this the bracket 33 is provided with a slot 139 which receives a. screw-driver slotted disc 39 having an eccentric shank 40 which is pivotally secured to the plate 21.

By turning the eccentric disc 39 the bracket 7 33 is turned about its pivot 34%, and may then be secured in the desired position of adjust ment by tightening a. screw 41 having screwthreaded engagement with the plate 21 and passing through an arcuate slot 42 in said plate. To adjust the separation of the contacts and 31, the cam 38 is turned so that the rubbing block 37 will ride upon one of the lobes of" the cam. The screw ll is loosened, a sheet metal shim having a thicklever 32 and the bracket 33 is secured to an 5 adjustable plate which is pivoted coaXial- .ly with the timer earn 38 and may be secured to the plate 21 in adjusted position by screws 51 which pass through arcuate slots 52 in the plate 50 and have threaded engagement with the plate 21. The eccentric 39 is pivotally supported to the plate 50. Hence the second described circuit interrupter is exactly like'the first one described,

but the second one is mounted upon an adjustable plate while the first one is mounted upon a stationary plate. The plate 50 may be rotated relative to the cam 38 in order to vary the angularxrelation between the rubbing blocks 37 and 37 by turning a screwdriver slotted dlsc 53 which is received by a slot 54: 1n the plate50 and \VlllCll' has an eccentric shank 55 pivotally secured to the plate 21. The plate 50 a bearing flange 50 which is received within a central aperturein the plate 21, so'that the plate 21 pivotally supports the plate 50 as shown in Fig. 5.

Before synchronizing the operation of the two interrupters the brackets 33 and .33 are adjusted in the manner described in or der to obtain the correct amount of contact separation. After these adjustments have been made, a synchronizing tool embodying the present invention, is mounted upon the cam in order to show what adjustment of the plate 50 should be made in order that the proper time relation or synchronism of the interrupters will be obtained.

The synchronizing tool,.which is the subject of the present invention, comprises a sector having a set of graduations 61 spaced from a set of graduations 72. The sector is provided with an arm 63 to which is attached a plug 64 adapted to be received within the bore of a tubular extension 65 of the cam 38. Thecam 38 is provided with such an extension for entering into a recess provided in a rotor block not'shown, said rotor block having within its recess, a lug which is adapted to be received. by a notch 66 in one side of the tubular extension 65. The notch 66, as well known to those skilled in this art, provides a driving connection between the timer cam and the distributor rotor and properly locates the rotor with respect to the cam ina predetermined relation. The arm 63 carries a leaf spring mem-.

ber 67 having resilient prongs 68 and 69, each of which is adapted to be received by the notch '66. If the tool is to be used with anignition timer in which the normal direction of rotation of the tuner cam is clockwise, then the prong 69, which is located on the same side of the arm 63 asthe graduation 61, will occupy the notch 66. The cam 38 is turned in a clockwise direction until separation of the contacts 30 and 31 begins. Then that graduation mark of the graduations 61 which is opposite a certain point of the ignition timer housing is noted. The point whichserves as an index may be the side edge 70 of a notch 71 provided in the housing 20 for the purpose of receiving a locating lug of a distributor head not shown. As shown in Fig. 1, the mark 16 of graduation 61 is located opposite the edge line 70. The cam 38 is then turned clockwise so as to bring the graduation 16 of the set of graduations 62 opposite the edge mark 70. .lVhile the cam 38 is held in this position, the screws 51 are loosened and the eccentric disc 55 is turned until the rubbingblock 37 has been moved counterclockwiselto such a distance that it will engage a lobe of the cam 38 and the contacts 30 and'31 will begin to separate. Then the screws 51 are tightened to secure the plate 50 in adjusted position to the plate 21.

As is well known, the relation between the locating notch 66 of the cam and the lobes of the cam will depend. on whether the ignition timer is intended forclockwise or counterclockwise rotation. To adapt an ignition timer for counterclockwise rotation, aieam 13 8 issubstituted for the cam 38. In the cam 138 the relation of the notch 166 (corresponding to notch 66) with respect to the placed in the notch 166 of the cam 138 and and 31 begins as shown in Fig. 3.

the cam 138 is turned in a counterclockwise direction until the separation of contacts 30 Son c index mark such as the edge line 7 0 which is adjacent the graduations 62 will point to a certain graduation mark such as the iiark 16 of the graduations 62. Then the cam 138 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the mark 16 of the set of gra luations 61 is located adjacent the edge mark 70. While the cam 138 is held in this position, the screws 51 are loosened and the eccentric 55 is turned so as to rotate the plate 50 in a clockwise direction in order to move the rubbing block 37 toward the cam lobe which has been approaching it in a counterclockwise direction; and the plate 50 is moved clockwise until the contacts 30 begins to separate from the contact 31, and then the screws 51 are tightened in order to secure the plate 50 to the plate 21 in adjusted position.

After using the synchronizing tool and adjusting the plate 50 of either the timer for clockwise rotation or the timer for counter 33 has been once adjusted to give the correct amount of separation to the contacts 30 and 31 this adjustment should be left alone and all subsequent adjustments be confined to the bracket and the plate 50. V

The graduations on the sector 60 may represent the degrees of engine shaft rotation and hence these graduations may be used to indicate to what extent the interrupters are out of synchronism. The two se;s of graduations are spaced exactly 60 of timer cam rotation from each other, since obviously the breaker levers must be operated alternately every 60 degrees of rotation of the cam 38.

If the eye cannot detect the instant of opening of the interrupter contacts in order to obtain an accurate synchronizing adjustment, the user may connect an ammeter in the ignition circuit including the battery, coil and ignition timer. While 51113 132112. of contacts are closed, the ammeter will read a certain amount but will indicate zero the instant the contacts of any interrupter are open.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is-to be under-- stood that other forms migit be adopted, all coming within the scope of the "claims which follow. I A

What is claimed is as follows; 1. A synchronizing tool. for an ignitio timer having two interrupter-separated by V a cam having anextension provided with a notch on one side thereof, said tool comprisinc; a rotatable plate having a plurallty of sets of graduations spaced angularly a predetermined distance depending on the required synchronism between the interrupter-s, a certain mark or part of the timer cooperating with one of the sets of graduations to point to a mark of said set of graduations when one of the interrupters begins to function, the, other interrupter being in desired synchronism when the corresponding graduation mark on the other set of graduations is adjacent said timer mark or part at the instant the other interrupter begins a similar function, means attached to the plate for supporting said plate upon the extension of the cam, and a plurality of devices carried by the plate, either of them being received by the notch of the cam in order that the plate may be located in either of two predetermined angular relations to the cam in order that the synchronizing tool maybe adapted to be used with ignition timers whose cams are intended to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

2. A synchronizing tool according to claim 1 in which the plate is attached to a iub telescopically received by-a cylindrical extension of the timer cam, said cylindrical extension having a notch for receiving either of two devices for locating the plate in certain relations to the cam.

3. A synchronizing. toolv according to claim 1 in which the platev is attached to a plug adapted to be received by a cylindrical bore of the cam, and in which a plurality of clips are attached to the plate, either clip being received by a'notch provided by the cam.

4. A synchronizing tool for an ignition timer having a plurality of interrupters operated by a cam having an extension pro vided with a notch on one side thereof. said tool comprising a rotatable plate having a plurality of sets of graduations spaced angularly a predetermined distance depending on the required synchronism between the interrupters, a certain mark or part of the timer cooperating with one of the sets of graduations to point toa mark of said set 1 of graduations when one of the interrupters begins to function, the other. interrupters being in desired synchronism when the corresponding graduation'mark on another set of graduatiens is adjacent said timer inark or part at the instant the other interrupter begins a similar function, means attached to the plate for supporting said plate upon the extension of the cam, and a plurality of deoftwo predetermined angular relations to the cam in order that the synchronizing tool 1 may be adapted to be used with ignition timers Whose cams are intended to rotate clockw se of counterclockwise.

In testimony whereof We hereto affix our signatures.

JOHN T. FITZSIMMONS. t

WILLIAM D. SHROPE. 

